Maternity clothes Trafford Ctr / Manchester

[IrisPurple1]

Hi ladies,

I am 14 weeks pregnant and my belly is growing by the day, although the rest of me has stayed the same. Now I've had my scan I'm raring to go! (and surviving on 4 dresses I can still fit in for a 5 day working week - washing machine on as I type!)

I'm planning a trip to the Trafford Centre and I was wondering if anyone else had already been and knows which shops stock maternity clothes in their Trafford centre branch? I know which shops do Mat-wear but not sure if they stock them at TC.

Failing that I'd be going to Manchester city centre, but don't fancy battling the crowds - I don't have many annual leave options as I'm already off for 2 weeks in May for holiday in Spain.

I'm 34, size 8 (with a very small top half), I work in an office and I prefer wearing pretty dresses (would not touch bodycon with a bargepole pregnant or not). I like the things in JoJo but the nearest one is 45 mins journey away. Already set aside a Saturday to travel to Leeds to visit Seraphine (plus BiL & family to tell them our happy news!). Online not an option for me as I need to try on.

Amy tips greatly appreciated! (even more so by my husband who'll have to deal with my hormonal frustration.)

[Junosmum]

I was there last week. H&m and new look had small sections. I didn't go to every shop and I no longer need mat clothes, but when I did go shopping for them (6 months ago) it was pretty useless.

[Junosmum]

And the city centre, there was only a tiny section in h&m, nowhere else.

You really need to shop online (which infuriates me!).

[SunnyDays1987]

Yeah so hard to find maternity clothes in store. I did buy some jeans from h&m thay saved my life. I got a few bits from Matalan as well. But to be honest I ended up in stretchy non mat dresses because the choice is so poor! A few people seem to say new look isn't bad but none of my local stores (including the TC) didn't have any in. It was a while ago though!

[Vap0]

We trawled the shops in a few towns and cities and found next to nothing. Every shop told me I had to go online which is so annoying, even the massive stores as like you I wanted to try things on. Eventually bit the bullet and ordered a load of stuff online in varying sizes. Jojo stuff is nice, never made it into one of their stores so don't know if they stock mat clothes in stores but you have to pay postage in return items which can be quite expensive depending on what you send back. Debenhams is great as its free delivery and free returns and has quite a wide selection and have just had a sale.
I'd save yourself the hassle and just buy online rather than visiting loads of shops with an unwilling partner - I have one of those also.

[Jenjen85]

I was at the Trafford centre a couple of weeks back and found H&M to be the best although only a small selection but mamas and papas stock maternity clothes altho never bought anything from them so don't know what they are like. It annoys me that most maternity clothes are only online, do shops think that pregnant people don't need to try clothes on???

[VivaHate]

Debenhams in city centre, Red Herring have their own section. Not the prettiest but I've got a wrap dress for work and a pair of comfy over bump jeans from there. So far not impressed with Manchester's mat wear offerings!

[mangocoveredlamb]

H&M online is good, as it's free delivery on orders over £50 and you can get things on credit, so you order and have it delivered, send back the things you don't want and then pay off the balance. Returns are free too!

[IrisPurple1]

Thank you for all your replies, they have been very useful and prevented me from a fruitless trip round Manchester in the Saturday crowds!

May still try TC one evening after work to check out H&M and Mamas & Papas. Does anyone know if the TC Debenhams stocks Red Herring? My husband is more than willing to accompany me, particular if we finish off at La Tasca!

Think I'll phone my nearest JoJo branch - even if they only have a couple of things I can work out what size I am.

Otherwise I'll have to resort to buying a pair of slob pants a couple sizes too big just to be physically comfortable and refuse to answer the door to visitors!

[guiltynetter]

the Trafford centre debenhams has red herring which has a medium size maternity range :)

[guiltynetter]

I got most of my maternity clothes from there.

[PonderLand]

H&M maternity jeans are really good but for dresses I just went to normal shops and bought a size 12 (size 8 before pregnancy) and now at 33 weeks the dresses still fit nicely.

I wear a fabric belt that I tie above my bump and it shapes it all really nicely, and it's changeable with the growing bump! Not the answer you were looking for but I really wouldn't rule out just normal clothes a few sizes bigger. Obviously take note of fabrics and length, what would look best and be most comfortable as you grow etc. Happy shopping!

[SinkyMalinks]

There's a jojo branch in Hale - only about 15min from the Trafford centre. It's small, but they cram a lot of clothes in. I liked their stuff.

Trafford centre is otherwise rubbish. Mama and papas clothes are pretty awful (or were 2 years ago) and expensive.

[LittleTalks]

Topshop in the Trafford Centre has quite a good selection, I got most of my maternity clothes from there in one go. I guess it depends if you normally like Topshop anyway. From about 14 weeks to 30 weeks I wore shift style dresses in 1 or 2 sizes up from normal ranges to work which worked out quite well.

[Arborea]

I don't think Mamas and Papas do maternity wear any more. There are a few Mothercare bits in the Manchester City centre Debenhams, but really it's only H&M and the Red Herring section that stock any maternity wear.

Jojo's website has lots of reviews which are usually helpful in gauging size etc.

[genome]

No maternity clothes in the Mamas and papas when I was there a few weeks ago. I failed to find any maternity wear in the Trafford Centre actually! There is a small selection in the Mothercare in Stockport, if you are near that side of the city. I'm expecting dc3 and I've found all the shops have stopped stocking maternity wear since my last pregnancy (two years ago!). Asos has a big selection and free returns so if you don't find anything that is a good online option.

[IrisPurple1]

Thanks again for the later replies! Glad to hear I can also check out Red Herring whilst there.

I'm a bit too old for New Look and Top Shop, altho I got a beautiful pair of shorts there that I can still fit in - fingers crossed I still can in 3 weeks' time when we go to Spain!

Ponder you are so lucky that you could wear normal clothes! I trawled round 7 charity shops trying on a range of dresses from 10-12 but they all gaped massively at the front. I have such a small top half. My mum (12) brought round some of her dresses, which were stretchy material (Fat Face), but I looked like a malnourished child wearing a sack held up by my belly.

I confess I nearly cried reading all these posts, I so want to look beautiful during my pregnancy, even if I have to spend a bit of money - I'll certainly wear them enough times if I just get a couple of nice dresses. I guess I'll have to revise my expectations a bit, and concentrate on ensuring I don't get sacked or stared at in the street LOL. I'm good for a few weeks yet in my work dresses.

Thanks again for everyone's advice and useful information.

[Shirkingfromhome]

Trafford centre is shocking got maternity clothes. Only a small section in h&m and debenhams. Every where else only stocks on online. Mamas and papas no longer stock maternity, neither does John Lewis or m&s. Not sure if topshop so anymore or not.

Save your legs OP and order online instead.

[Shirkingfromhome]

*got - for.

Ps. Asos do a nice maternity range.

[SewSlapdash]

I'm afraid you are going to have to resign yourself to shopping online. I have ordered and returned hundreds of pounds worth of maternity clothes in the last month or so.

Also, I hate to say it, but you are probably still too early for a lot of maternity clothes with a first pregnancy. I was well past 20 weeks with DC 1 before I was into maternity on a regular basis, particularly for tops. I know it's awful - even this time with DC2 I spent a frustrating time not squeezing into normal clothes but being swamped by maternity stuff.

[IrisPurple1]

Wow... just rang my nearest large M&S and indeed Shirking you're right! Gosh... you've all saved me so much time and money in petrol / train fares.... will put that into ordering online, returning, ordering, returning... Vap did you actually manage to find something that fit before you gave birth???

[Shirkingfromhome]

Iris I was shocked when I went a few months ago as two years ago they all stocked maternity and now none of them do. Save yourself the embarrassment of flouncing out of every single shop in the Trafford centre and going home in a huff unlike me

[StarSpotter]

There's a really big Mothercare at The Fort shopping complex in Cheetham Hill, about 5 mins drive from city centre with free parking. It's got quite a big selection of mat wear. There's also a George at Asda, but not sure if they have may wear there.

[Runningupthathill82]

If you're heading along the m62 east for some reason soon, pop into the Mamas and Papas factory outlet just off junction 25? Their stock changes very quickly but you can usually pick up good stuff very cheaply.

Manchester itself - like all cities IME - is a bit dire for maternity wear in the shops. The red herring selection at Debenhams in town almost made me cry, it's so sad. Polyester trousers and shapeless tops in drab colours, not much else.

Asos online was by far my best bet in both pregnancies. Yes, I had to send some stuff back that didn't fit, but still far easier than trying to find something decent in Mothercare etc.

[Vap0]

Hi Iris

I've not given birth yet, only 20w. I found from 17w my normal trousers & jeans no longer fit. The Red Herring over bump jeans are great and I've been wearing them pretty much non stop since 17w out of work time. I also have a nice striped 3/4 t shirt from Dorothy Perkins. Both bought from Debenhams online. I have a really nice JoJo mama Bebe 3/4 sleeve top too. I've moved from work trousers to a couple of dresses from Hobbs (not maternity) but they are stretchy fabric and a lot more forgiving than trousers. One is a wrap dress which won't fit for too long as it will start gaping at the front. The other I'm happy to keep wearing and stretch. I'm sure I'll have to invest in more work wear at some point but at the minute things are ok. I did find maternity tights in primark too, 2 pairs for £5 and they are really comfy, bought a pack in black and another in suntan. I'd never bought primark tights before but think I will in future, they are half the price of M&S and more comfortable. I have also bought a couple of very long vest tops described as dress vests which are good and have a couple of wrap cardigans from before pregnancy which will work. A few tops I already had were also bump friendly. I'm not planning on buying anything else at the minute as would rather save my money for when baby arrives.

Let me know if you find any gems...

[IrisPurple1]

Hi ladies, thought I'd let you know how I got on.

Thanks to your advice I cancelled plans to visit TC and Mcr City Centre. Instead, I visited Seraphine in Leeds (on the way to a surprise visit to break our news to a very excited BiL and family), with a detour to our nearest branch of JoJo.

I knew I am a little early for Maternity clothes, but it was the perfect time to shop as it's my birthday in 2 weeks plus we're going on holiday for 10 days and will be 19 weeks when I return to work. And I was just too excited!!

Tried on a few bits at JoJo so I know what size I am in each type of product so can order online with some confidence if/when I need more. Came away with over-bump work trousers to grow into and a lovely dress which I could even wear now (if it ever gets warm enough!).

Seraphine was an amazing wonderful experience. I literally felt like a million dollars in everything I put on and the staff gave such personal service. I confess to going a bit mad - 3 dresses, a nursing top (which I realised later is far too beautiful to risk a baby burping all over!) and a pair of under bump shorts which fit straight away and is perfect for my holiday, as all my tops still fit but my usual shorts are consigned to the 'clothes I can no longer fit in' box. So excited about those shorts - I have never looked so good in a pair of shorts in my life!

So if anyone else is reading and frustrated at the lack of choice in shops, my advice would be to make that one journey to a shop and try on, so that you know what size fits the rest of your body in a variety of items / styles to save frustration / expense when ordering online.

And thank you all for your advice, saved so much time and heartache!